Spacex NASA GOES-U 2024 contract to use Falcon Heavy?

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https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-goes-u-mission Why would they use Falcon-Heavy instead of Falcon-9 FT for the GOES-U 2024 satellite launch?

Falcon-9 FT has the following specifications to geosynchronous orbit. 5,500kg to GTO reusable, 8,300kg to GTO expendable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-lift_launch_vehicle

And according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOES-U the launch mass of the GOES-U is only 2,800kg, which is well within the range of an ordinary reusable FALCON-9 FT, so why would the contract specify using FALCON-HEAVY? Also, could this change to Starship? Starship should have launched several flights by 2024 ...

asked Sep 18, 2021 at 7:55

Sheldon

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$\begingroup$ I don't know, but it is possible that they will put like it to be put into a higher energy orbit than the minimal GTO used for those numbers in order to save orbit-raising time and/or satellite propellant cf What is meant by "a high-energy geostationary orbit"? (SpaceX Arabsat 6A) and What will be "unique" about upcoming SES-9 GTO transfer profile by SpaceX? and How did SES-9 reach geostationary orbit from inclined transfer orbit (from F9 2nd stage) $\endgroup$
– uhoh
Sep 18, 2021 at 8:56
1

$\begingroup$ it looks like has an LEROS 1c Apogee Engine so the time saving would not be as much as it would be if it were an all-electric propulsion satellite, but the propellant savings would be much larger than if it were electric. That propellant might be better used for station keeping and station-changing. However I don't think the GOES-U (to become GOES-19 once deployed and commissioned) is planned to be doing a heck of a lot of that. $\endgroup$
– uhoh
Sep 18, 2021 at 9:06
2

$\begingroup$ Wiki info is incorrect. It confuses dry mass with launch mass. If you check GOES-16 and -17, they have dry mass ~2800 and launch mass over 5000 kg. The last GOES satellites have been launched by Atlas V rocket in 541 configuration - the second most powerful Atlas with 4 strap-on solid busters. (Another example that Wikipedia can be a starting point, but should be checked) $\endgroup$
– Heopps
Sep 20, 2021 at 12:41

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